Automatic firearm



Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed D80- 15, 1923 e Sheets-Sheet i oo o o o QR.

Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1925 e SheetS-Sh-eet 2Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed DeG. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 rm w m Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 16, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fr 5 w M? L Q MR J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923Feb, 3. 1925.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet. 6

A 6 wk Patented Feb. 3. 1925.

- 'UNTED JOHN M. BROWNING, or OGDEN. UTAH.

Aurommno mama. 1

Application filed December 15, 1923. Serial No. 680,963. i

To all whom it may. concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN M. BROWNING, a citizen ofthe United States,residin in Ogden, in the countyof Weber and tate of Utah, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The invention relates to an automatic gun of the recoil-operated type inwhich all the operations of the mechanism, except that of thetrigger,are aii'tomatically .efi'ected A mam object of the invention is toprovide an automatic gun of this character which is adapted to firelarge caliber projectiles such as can be loaded with a high explosivecharge (37 mm. or larger cartridge for instance) but so light in weightas to 'be mobile, adapted to be mounted on aircraft and fired from anyposition and yet most durable. This object is attained by provid ing anovel construction-and combination of parts, including, amongst otherthings, new

and novel means for holding and feeding.

the cartridges, a novelform of lock frame and co-operating parts andnovel means for actuating the breech block to close and open 'thebreech. Moreover, I have provided a construction so simple that the guncan be entirely taken apart and assembled quickly and without the use ofany tools, so light that it can be easily carried or moved from placetoplace, and can be mounted on any airplane or aircraft of a usuaLtypeand can be fired in any position, and yet strong, reliable and safe inoperation, and capable of withstanding the severe shocks and strainswhich accompany the firing of large caliber projectiles. I

While a'main object of my .invention is to provide an automatic gun forfiring large caliber projectiles, the invention is equally applicable tosmall caliber guns.

()ther and further objects and advantages will appear from the followingdisclosure.

The inventions in their preferred form are shown in the drawings inwhich,

Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the Fig. 2 represents a right handside elevation of the gun. i

Fig. 3 represents avertical transverse section in the lines 3-30f Fig.2.

Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of the dust cover and feed box inthe line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a left hand side elevation of the gun.

Fig. 6 represents a right hand View of a central longitudinal verticalsection showing I the reciprocating parts in their forward po sitionready for firing. The barrel andrecuperator are broken away, certainparts including'the bufi'er are in elevation, and certain partsincluding the cooking lever pivot pin spring arm and the feed pawllever, are

not shown.

Fig. 7 represents a right hand View of a central longitudinal verticalsection showing the reciprocating parts in a rearward position. Thebarrel and recuperator are broken away,"oertain parts are in elevationand cert-am parts mcludmg the cocking lever pivot pin spring arm andthe. feed pawl lever, are not shown.

Fig. 8 represents the trigger, detached, in top plan view and frontview. In the top plan view a portion of the trigger bar is also shown.

Fi 9 represents a front sectional view showmg the top of the casing, thetrigger bar-and the trigger in the line 9-9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 represents a right hand side elevation of the trigger bar withthe trigger and portions of the casing and feed box in. section. I

Fig. 11 represents a front view of the .trigger bar with a portion ofthe top flange of the left hand side plate in section, in line 1111 ofFig. 10, showing the connection betweemthe front end of the trigger barand said flange.

Fig. 12 represents a left hand view; of a central vertical longitudinalsection, with the lock frame and other parts in elevation.

This-view shows the parts when the barrel is in its forward position andthe 'lock frame v is being held in its rearward position, ready for theinsertion of cartridge into. the gun.

Fig. 13 represents a left hand view of a. vertical longitudinal sectionshowing the.

parts shown in Fig. 12 in position to inject a cartridge into the breechof the barrel.) Fig. 14 represents a top plan view of the,

gun with the top cover oft-he feed. box aiid its latch removed and thetrunnion block and broken away at front and rear. The parts are in theposition which they occupy in Fig. 12 with the first cartridge bein intothe gun. The barrel extension an breech block are not shown.

Fig. 15 represents a top un with the top cover of t e feed box and itslatch removed andthe trunnion blocklever in its upper position; in Fig.17 the cartrid carrier is omitted, and the cartridge is in an earlierstage of its progress 50m the feed plate to the breech than in i 13.Fig. 18 represents a plan view of the feed plate.

I plate with one cartridge in locked position Fig. 19 represents a frontview of the feed in the plate. I

Fig. 20 represents a bottom view of the feed plate with one cartridgelocked in position in the plate.

Fig. 21- represents section ofthe feed plate of Fig. 19.

Fig-22 represents a front view, bottom view and a right hand end view ofthe spring catch which looks the cartridges inthe feed plate.

Fig. 23- represents a top view of the feed pawl lever and feed pawl.

Fig. 24 represents a left hand side view of the feed pawl lever and feedpawl.

Fig. 25. represents a front view, a right hand side view' and ahorizontal section of the feed lever in the line 25-25 of the ri ht handside view.

ig. 26 represents a the feed lever spring; 1

Fig. 27 represents a top View and a front view of the cartridge loadingtool.

Fig. 28 represents a top view of the barrel broken away) and thebarrelextension an the parts carried thereby.

Fig. 29 represents a right hand side view of the barrel (broken away)and the barrel a vertical transverse in the line 21--21 perspective viewof extension and the parts carried thereb Fig. 30 represents a rear viewof Fig. 29, withthe several parts in their respective positions.

Fig. 31 represents a front view of Fig. 29, with the several parts intheir respective positions.

lan flew of the Fig. 3 2 representson an enlarged scale a section of theright hand arm of the barrel 7 extension and parts carried thereby inthe line 32-32 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 33 represents a topview hand side view of the ejector."

Fig. 3.4 represents a to'p'view and a right hand side view of thecartridge guide stop lever.

Fig. 35 represents a rear view of Fig. 36.

Fig. 36 represents a right hand side view of the right hand arm of thebarrel extenand a right sion showing, in dotted lines, the cartridgeguide lever 1n itsintermediate position.

" Fig. 37 and Fig. 38 are the same, respectively, as Figs. 35. and 36,with the cartridge guide lever in its lowest position.

Fig. 39 represents top, rear and right hand sideviews of the breechblock.

Fig. 40 represents top, rear and right hand side views of the breechblock stop.

Fig. 41 represents top and right hand side views of the cartridge guidelever.

Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 45 represent respectively, top, rear, right handside and front views of they look frame, with its associated parts. I

' Fig. 46 represents a fragmenta zontal section in the line 46-46 of l i.Fig. 47 represents a left hand side view of the upper front portion ofthe lock frame and charger, showing the ejector stud.

Fig. 48 represents a top view of the charghorier, showing the extractorand extractor spring.

' Fig. 49 represents a central vertical section of the front portion ofthe charger, with the extractor and extractor spring in elevation.

Fig. 50 represents a front view of the charger and extractor.

Fig. 54 represents top, right hand side i and front views of the sear.

1 Fig. 55 represents top, right hand side and front views ofthe triplever.

Fig. 56 represents a right hand and a bottom view of the cocking leverpivot pin.

Fig. 57 represents a right hand side and a front view of the cockinglever.

Fig. 58 represents a top, a right hand side and a front view of the searspring.

Fig. 59 represents a rear view of the gun with the rear plate brokenaway, showing the reaction spring andthe shoulder on the guide rod (indotted lines), the rear projection on the guide rod,'the guide plate anda portion of the bufier housing.

The gun represented by the drawings purposes as will hereinafter appear.

comprises a frame ofbreech casing 1, rectangular in form, and adaptedtocontain the breech and firing mechanism. The said casing is made up oftwo strong vertical side 1 plates provided, except at their front endportions, with inturned flanges 1 at" top and bottom, as shown in Figs.16 and 17. The

casing is closed at the top and ends as hereinafter described.

A trunnion block 2 is located between th forward ends of the sideplates, where the inturned flanges 1 are omitted, and said block isfirmly secured to the side plates at top and bottom, as by a pluralityof transverse rivets 2. Rearwardly of said trunnion block the bottom ofthe casing is left open in the space between the lower inturned flangesof the side plates for the ejection of the empty shells'and' for otherProjecting laterally from the trunnion block are the'usual trunnions 2for mounting the gun on a carriage or other supporting means.

The top of the casing is closed at the rear by the fixed top plate 3rigidly secured to the inturnedflanges at the top of the side plates, asby means of screws 3 (Fig. 1). From the front end of the top plate 3forward to a point a short distance back of the rear end of the trunnionblock 2, the.

casing is closed at the top by the upwardly projecting feed box 4,secured on both sides to the side plates of the casing and at front Iand back to the top side plate flanges in any .\\'cll known manner, asby screws 43. This feed box contains members of the cartridge feedingmechanism and is provided with a transverse feed channel into which thecartridges and the feed plate ,carrying the same may be fed from left toright into the gun, the feed plate being fed out at the right hand sideas the firing proceeds. lVhen the gun is not in use, this channel isclosed by outwardly swinging doors to prevent the entrance of foreignmatter, such as snow or dirt, the door 4 on the left-hand side swingingupward and permitting the entrance of the cartridges and feed plate andthe smaller door 4 on the right hand side swinging back and permittingthe exit of the feed plate. To permit access to the parts of themechanism in the box 4, the top of the box is closed by a cover 4,hinged at the rear at 4 and held in its closed portion at the front by alatch 48. The door 4 is hinged to this cover so as to swing outwardlyand upwardly. Spring plungers of a usual type (see Fig. 4) co-operatewith the doors 4* and 4 to hold them either in their open or closedpositions.

The top of the casing between the front end of the feed box 4 and thetrunnion block 2 is closed by a small plate 3" fastened as by screws 3to the top flangesof the side plates, which top flanges run forward tothis point. The front end of this;

plate projects downwardly and fits into the groove at the top of thetrunnion block to keep out foreign matter (see Figs. 12 and," 13). Atthe rear end, the breech casing 1 is closed by a vertically slidablerear plate 5 (Figs. 12 and 13) which is guided "and held againstlongitudinal movement between the side plates by having ribs on itssides engaging corresponding grooves in' the side plates. As shown, therear plate -5 1s slid upwardly into position and held thereinby aguiding plate and rearward projection on the end of the reaction springguide rod as hereinafter described Between the top side flanges of theside plates at their forward ends is the bridge plate 6 (Figs. 12, 13and 14). This plate is rigidly attachedto said side flanges as by rivetsnotshown, the side flanges being cut away on their under faces toreceive the side portions, correspondingly cut away on flo their upperfaces, of this late whereby the same is flush with said ages at top andbottom. This plate has rearwardly extending shoulders 6 against whichthe breech block abuts on its upward movement and which limit saidupward movement as here.

inafter described. The inner upper edge of the left hand shoulder 6slopes downwardly and inwardly to accommodate the cartridge 1 gun ashereinafter said seat is preferably slightl counterbored from its rearend so that the arrel sildably engages only the forward portion of saidseat. At its-rear end the barrel is firmly secured as by screw threads(Figs. 12, 13 and 29) to the barrel extension 8, which, near its forwardend, is of a size and shape to slidingly fit the inside of the breechcasing. The rearward extending arms 8 and 8 of the barrel extension arespaced from the side walls of the casing for the greater portionof.their lengths, as "shown clearly in Figs. 16, 17 and 28; they arealso cut away at the bottom for the greater portion of their lengths forreasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Thus thecombined barrel and barrel extension are supported and guided in theirreciprocations .at two spaced points only, thereby greatly lessening thefriction between said parts and the breech casing.

To check the recoil 'of the heavy barrel and barrel extension and to.return them to" their forward firing-position as soon as they havereached the limit of their recoil movement, a recuperator 9 is provided.This retion which is well known vand therefore need not be furtherdescribed. .The recuperator is conveniently secured to the under side ofthe trunnion block 2, by

forming T-sha ed grooves on the bottom of thereby forming shouldersadapted to clamped between'forward and rear nuts, 9 and 9, respectively,(Fig. 6), each having cylindrical portions to fit the counterbores andlocked a ainst rotation when in their operative position, by the breechblock stop as hereinafter described, or by any other suitable means. Inthis manner a very strong connection between the piston rod and thebarrel extension is obtained, said connection permitting the easydisassembly of the parts by simply unscrewing the rear nut 9 whenthe'breech block stop has been removed.

The breech block 10 is formed as shown in Fig. 39, with vertical ribs 10on each side which have a sliding fit in vertical grooves or mortises 8in the barrel extension 8 (Figs. 12 and 28). At its lower rear end thebreech block is widened longitudinally at 10 (Fig. 39), this widenedlower end having a T-shaped slot 10 therein for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. Rigidly attached to or integral with the rear face of thebreech block, near its top, is the locking rib 10 hereinafter more fullydescribed.

' The breech block 10 is adapted to open and close the breech of thebarrel by vertical reciprocation in the barrel extension, and isreciprocated for this purpose by the breech block actuating lever 11 ina manner now to be described.-

Mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the casing is the lock frame12, shown de-' t-a-ched in Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 45. At- 12 (Figs. 43 andare longitudinal grooves on opposite sides of the horizontal portion 12of the lock frame to receive the inwardly projecting bottom flanges 1 ofthe side plates of the casingl (see Figs. 16 and 17), and thereby guideand support the lock frame for longitudinal movement therein.

As shown in Figs; 16 and 17 the upper portion of the lock frame takesits position" and reciprocates between the arms 8 and ,8 ofthe barrelextension. Depending from the bottom of the front, end of the lock frameare two lugs 12 (see Figs. 44 and 45) in' which the transverse breechblock actuating lever pin 11 is made fast. Pivotally mounted between thelugs 12 on the pin 11 is the breech'block actuating lever 11, of theform shown in Fig. 51. The forward arm of this lever ends in twodiverging branches 11" and 11. of upwardly projecting branch 11" isformed with two short lateral studs 11 of a size and form to enten thetransverse opening of the T-slot 10 of thebreech block. When the studs11' are in the slot. 10 of the breech block, the rocking of the lever 11on its pivot will-cause the vertical reciprocation of the breech bolt.In Fig. 6 the parts are shown in full firing position, with the breechblock in its raised position, closin the breech. When the cartridge isfired the barrel, barrel extension,'breech block and lock framerecoiland during this recoil the lever 11 is rotated on its pivot, by meanshereinafter described, causing the studs 11' to enterthe transverseopening in the slot 10" of the breech block and move the breech blockdownwardly from the position shown in Fig.6 to its lowered positionshown in Fig. 7, when the barrel and barrel extension are substantiallyat the end of their rearward movement. The barrel and barrel extensionnow move foward again under the 7 tension of the recuperatorspringcarrying with them the breech block, but the lock frame with itsaccompanying parts continues its recoil until stopped by the bufi'er,hereinafter described, and after a short forward movement it istemporarily held in a rearward position by means hereinafter described,the barrel, barrel extension and breech block and the lock frame and itsaccompanying parts thereby separating and permitting the ejection of thedischarged cartridge and the feeding into place of a new cartridge. (SeeFigs. 12 and 13.) As the breech block moves forward with the barrel andbarrel extension, leaving the lockframe in its rearward position, thestuds 11 will be withdrawn from the slot 10, leaving the parts as shownin Figs. 12 and 13. When subsequently the lock frame moves forwardafter. the barrel has reached the limit of its forward movement and anew cartridge is in position to be inserted into the breech, the studs11 will again enter the slot 10, thelever 11 will be rotated'on itspivot and the breech block will be moved vertically to its raisedposition shown in Fig. 6, closing the breech.

The rocking of the lever 11 during the longitudinal reciprocation of thelock frame is brought about by a plurality of cam surfaces on cam platesfastened to the bottom of the side plates co-operating with studs on thelower branch 11 of the breech block actuating lever 11 and similar studson the rear arm of said lever. Rigidly fastened The end and dependingtherefrom is the cam plate I Fig. 6 the forward arm of the lever 11 is13 see Figs. 2-, 5 and 6). The bottom edge of t is plate beginning at;its front-end first slopes rearwardly and downwardly, then vruns for adistance substantially parallel with the bottom of the casing, thenslopes rearwardly and downwardly again for a short distance, then slopesupwardly and rearwardly, and then runs parallel to, and a short distancebelow, the bottom of the casing;

At 13 is a cam groove on the inner side of the cam plate; commencing atthe rear this cam groove runs horizontally for the greater part of itslength and ends in a downwardly and forwardly curving por& tion 13. The.upper surface of the straight portion of this groove is the undersurface of the bottom, inturned flange of the lefthand side plate. At 13is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined cam groove opening into the camgroove 13. The top of this groove 13 is closed by a spring pressedswitch l3 (Fig. 6). Firmly attached to and depending from the bottomflange of the right hand side plate ofthe casing and just to the rear ofthe breech block when it is in its lowered position is the cam plate 14(see Figs. 12 and 13) which is of the same size and shape as thatportion of cam plate 13 forward of cam groove 13".

The cam surfaces and grooves just described cooperate with studs on thebreech block lever 11 to rock said lever to raise and lower the breechblock. The end of the lower branch 11 of the forward arm of .lever 11 isformed with twolong lateral studs 11. The end of the rear arm of thelever 11 is formed with two long lateral studs 11. When the parts are infull firingposition with the breech closed as shown in in a raisedposition with the studs 11 in contact with the bottom flanges of theside plates of the casing forwardly of the front ends of the bottomedges of the cam plates 13 and 14, the studs 11 being long enough 7 tomake this contact. As the parts, including the lock frame 12 and lever11, move rearwardly on the recoil following the firing of a cartridgethe contact between the studs 11 and the rearwardly and downwardlysloping bottom edges or cam surfaces of the cam plates 13 and 1 1 willcam downthe front arm of thelever 11', rocking the lever on its pivot.The initial movement of the lever carries the studs 11 forwardly anddownwardly into the slot 10 of the breech block, and further movement ofthe lever 11 about its pivot carries the breech blockverticallydownward. Meanwhile the rear 'arm of the lever is swingingupwardly and before the studs 11 leave the rearwardly and downwardlysloping camsurfac'es' on the bottom of the cam p ates 13-and 14: theleft hand stud 11 on the rear arm of lever 11 enters the upwardly andrearwardly inclined cam groove 13 on the inside of plate 13 which actson said stud 11v to continue the swinging of lever 11 about its ivot onthe further rearward movement of t e parts, carrying the breech block toits lowest 0- sition, as shown in Fig. 7. As hereina ter described, thelock frame thereafter continues its rearward movement and the stud 11presses aside the switch 13 (Fi 6), .and passes into the rear portion 0barrel extension is stopped by the recu erator before the lock frame hasreache its limit of recoil and the recuperator returns the barrel andbarrel extension to battery. The recoil and the forward movements of thebarrel and barrel extension are bufiered by the recuperator. On itsforward movement the barrel is stopped b engagement of the front face ofthe barre extension with the rear face of the trunnion block.

After the barrel has stopped its recoil the lock frame continues itsrecoil under its own momentum against the reaction spring the barrel andlock frame drawing apart rom each other, and any excess of recoil willbe finally absorbed by asuitable buffer arranged .on the rear plate ofthe casing and is necessary to hold the breech block in its lowestposition, so that on the subsequent return movement of the lock framethe studs 11 will enter the T-slot 10 of the breech block and raise theblock to its breech closing position. To this end, a breech block, stop15 (see Figs. 6, 7, 12-, 13 and 40) is secured to .the lower end of thedownwardly projecting portion 8 of the barrel extension 8, said stopbeing provided with a rearwardly projecting shoulder 15 on which thebottom of the breech block, when the same is in its lowest position,is'ad-apted to rest. The breech after more fully described. During theformounted in said recess on the front face of the breech block isfrictionally but an bad in this position by a spring pressed plunger andprojecting into a block. I find this friction .plunger' ad uate to holdthe'breech block in its lowere p0- sition under any unusual conditions,such as when the gun is 'fired upside down. The

sides of said plunger arebeveledand the sides of therecess in the breechblock are correspondingly formed, thereby permitting the plunger to beautomatimllypressed aside by applying substantial force to the block toraise it. The breech block stop 15 is secured-to the end of theportion-8 of'the barrel extension by a longitudinal rib and means justdescribedI make certain that the breech block will not move fromitslowest position except when actuated by its aac- 'tuating lever 11,even though the gun be fired upside down as in an aeroplane. This stopv15 may. also prevent turning of the nuts 9 and i), which may besquare-headed for this purpose, thereby locking said nuts until stop 15is removed. I

On the return of the barrel, barrel extension and breech block toforward posi-' tion, if any: m'rtridges remain in the feed plate, thelock frame willbe automatically released and under the tension of thereaction spring will be returned to its forward position, pushing afresh cartridge into the barrel chamber, all of which willbe hereinwardmovement of the lock frame the left hand stud 11 on the rear arm of thebreech block actuating lever 11 will first be guided in the horizontalcam groove 13 of the cam plate 13, the switch 13 now closing theentrance to cam groove 13. When the stud 11 reaches the downwardly andforwardly curved cam groove 13, the studs 11 at the forward end of lever11 will have entered the slot 10 in the breech block and thecartridgewill have been almost fully inserted into the chamber, and as the lock,frame completes its forward movement the studs 11 will be guideddownwardly by the cam groove 13*, and the rear cam surface on the camplate 14 which at their lower ends are substantially vertical, rockingthe lever 11 about its pivot to raise the front arm of the lever andthereby raise the breech bolt at a rapidly increasl rate. The passage ofthe studs 11 through cam groove 13 and along saidcam surfaceserves toraise the breech block about half way of its full upward movement whilethe lock frame is imam completing its forward a 11 cam surface on cametc 14 justas the lock If 1111110 completes its award movement and thefinal upward movement of the breech block to its upper closing positionis com- I pleted 1y under its own momentum and partly y the continuedrotation of the lever .11 about its pivot by the action of-the breechblock lever spring 16 on the breech block lever strut 16.

the cartridge into the barrel. The dzuds leave the cam'groove 13 and therear/i The said breech block lever s ring is 'seatedina longitudinalseat provlded therefor centrally of the'under side of thelowerhorizontalortion 12 (Figs. 16, 42, 43 and 44) of the ock frame. Said spring abutsat its rear end against a collar on the end of l a spring guide pin, andat its front end againstanother circular collar which, when theparts areassembled, abuts against the rear end ofthe lever strut 1.6. There areinturned flanges at the front end of the spring seat to hold the springin its seat in case the strut is removed. The rear collar has a slot inits rear face allowing it. to be turned on its axis, and forward of itsrear face has a laterally projecting'stud. The spring is inserted lntoits seat from the rear, and the rear collar may be pushed'in against theten sion of the spring, the stud passing through a groove cut thereforon the side of the rear portion of the spring seat, until the rear faceof the rear collar is flush with the rear face of the portion 12 of thelock frame, when by a partial rotation of the collar the stud willengage in a recess cut therefor in the bottom face of the lock frame,locking the sprin in its seat. The front face of the front col ar isrecessed forming a seat for the rear end of the breech block lever strut16 which is pivoted at 16 6 and 7) in a longitudinal groove 16-cut inthe top face of the rear arm of the breech block lever (see Fig. 51).When the breech block lever is rotated to lower the breech block, thestruct 16 will compress its spring 16 .and for this purpose a slot iscut in the front portion ofthe bottom face of the spring seat. Fig. 44shows the strut and springwhen the rear arm of the breech block leverhas been raised to its upper-position, The

strut l6 has now passed dead center posihas reached the limit of itsrotation in this direction by the'engagementof thestuds 11 with thebottomfaces of the lower flanges of the side plates of the breech casingas shown in Fig. 6, the pressure of the s ring against the strut willserve to hol the breech block lever in the position there shown. Thespring and strut therefore serve to hold the breech block lever inposition after rotation in either direction.

The parts are so organized that there is a lost motion connectionbetween the breech block and its actuating lever when the breech blockhas reached'the limit of its upward movement. When the breech blockstops in its uppermost position, the actuating lever continues to rotateuntil it is stopped by engagement of studs 11 with the bottom faces ofthe lower inturned flanges of the side plates. In this further slightro-. tation of the breech block actuating lever 11, the studs 11 passrearwardly from the T- "slot 10 in the breech block and the thendownwardly and forwardly sloping surface 11* (Figs. 6, 12, 13 and 51) atthe forward end of the arm 11 engages the rear edge of the top of theT-slot holding the breech block firmly in place, as shownin Fig. 6.

Although'the pressure of the breech bloc-k lever sprin 16 prevents anysubstantial rebound of tie actuating lever, sucl rebound might occur andif it does, the lost motion connection just described prevents suchreboundfrom movin the breech block from its uppermost ositlon whichmight cause a m'isfire. F urt iermore, as hereinafter described, thhammer is retracted and cocked by the movement of the actuating lever onthe recoil and the lost motion connection permits an initial retractionof the hammer before any downward movement of the breech block. Therebythe hammer and firing pin are freed from contact with each other and theforward end of the firing pin is freed from contact with the shell andthe breech block is free to be, lowered without any friction from thehammer or firing pin or injur to said firing pin. Again this lost motionconnection offers a convenient means for permitting the parts to recoila short distance before there is any movement of the breech block. Thebreech block is under tremendous pressure from the expansion V werestrain on the operating parts.

studs on the breech block lever to permit the shell or projectile toleave the barrel and' relieve the pressure on the breech block.

If there were no lost motion connection, however, this same result couldbe secured by so organizin the engagement of the forward parts of t ecams 13 and 14- with studs 11'that the lever'll would not commence torotate until after the initial recoil of the parts.

The upward movement of the breech block is limited by the top of thebreech block coming in'contact w1th shoulders 6" (Figs. 14 and 15) ofthe bridge plate 6.

Suitable means are provided to lock together the lock frame and thebreech block when the lock frame is in its forward position and thebreech block is in its upper closing position. Such lockin means maycomprise a vertical rearwardy projecting T-shaped j rib 10. arrangedcentrall and near the top of the rear face of the reech block 10 andadapted, when the breech block is in its raised position, to engage in acorresponding sha ed groove 10 (Figs. 44 and 46) on the ront face of thelock frame. On the final upward movement of 'the breech block,immediately on the lock in firm engagement at 'the moment offiring andon their initial recoil. ItTal'sof insures that the lock-f frame can.notfbe retracted manually without lowering the breech block.

For the manual operation of the breech mechanism the breechblockactuating lever 11 is provided with'a finger piece 11 which dependsfrom{ the rear portion of the rear arm of said lever (Figs- 44 and 51)and which is adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator. Arearward pull on the finger piece when the parts are in the forwardposition shown in Fig. 6 acts to first swing the actuating lever 11about its pivot,

the initial pull seating the studs 11 in the slot 10- in the breechblock and the continued pull rotating the lever. 11 and lowering thebreech block vertically. Since the pull required to retract the lockframe is insuflicient to move theheavy barrel against the 'recuperatorspring, the barrel and its accompanying parts are not moved rearwardlyon manual retraction of the lock frame. But since the breech block andlock frame are locked together when in firing position, the lock framecan not be disengaged from the breech block until the block has beenlowered, thereby insuring that the initial pull onthe breech blockactuating lever will move the breech block downward and insuring thatthe lock frame will notv be retracted without lowering the breechblock.

As explainedabove, the initial pull on the finger piece 11 seats thestuds 11 in the slot of the breech block and starts the breech blockdownward without sepg," ng the lock frame from the breech" lo blockiJust as the breech block reaches the position where it becomesunlockedlfrom the lock frame the left hand stud 11" at the rear of theleverll enters the'cam groove 13", the lock frame up to this time beingheld in its forward'position by its locking engagement with the breechblock. On continued pull on the finger piece the stud 11v passesrearwardly and u wardly, guided by cam groove 13", moving the lock framerearwardly and swinging the lever 11. about its.

ward against the pressure of its reaction spring. On manually returningthe, parts to forward position, the -members go.

through the same cycle of operations and breech block to its lowerposition bein per movements as in the automatic operation. It will beseen that in the manual opera,- tion, since the barrel remains forward,the rearwardly and downwardly inclined bottom cam edges of cam. plates13 and 14, as well as the cam groove 13,perform no function, theirnormal function of moving the formed manually and by the coo eration of"the cam roove 13', with the stu 11 which insures t at the breech blockis moved to 'the limit .of its lowered position on the manual retractionof the lock frame. By this construction and arrange arrel' can bemanually opened and the lock frame brought into a rearward position,ready to push a cartridge into the barrel chamber on. the succeedingforward movement, 'in a minimum of time and with a single operation,namely, a rearward pull on the finger piece 11 of the breech blockactuating lever 11. 1

The forward movement of the lock frame is slowed down and buffered bythe cam operations on the breech block lever above described and by itsenergy beingctransferred to the breech block and cartrid 'e. The form'ofthese cam surfaces and weight of the breech block, which is raised tobreech closing position during this for- '8' on the barrel ments ofarts, it is evident that the breech of the.

ward movement of the lock frame offer a powerful retarding action on themovement of the lock frame and brin it to rest without any yiolentbl'ow. he lock frame comes to a full stop by the front face of the lowerhorizontal portion 12 coming in contact with the rearwardly facingshoulders extension (Figs. 12, 13, 28 and 29). Y 1

The reaction spring 17 is provided with a' telescopic guiderod 17 (Fig.13), the

a removable collared plug 17" to receive the thrust of the front end ofthe spring, while the rear section of the said rod'is formed.

forward section of'whi'ch is provided with its guide rod can be readilyremoved as a unit from the casing. A small central projection' 17providing a shoulder 12 and 13) on the f10l1t en of thefront section ofthe guide rod extends through and forwardly .of said washer and normallyprojects into a hole formed in an upwardly rojecting arm 18 at theforward left-hand side ofthe lock frame (see Figs". 12, 16, 17, 43 and45),

while the rear section of the. guide rod is' similarly formed with arearward projection 17 which engages a hole in the rear plate 5 (Fig..12), to hold the guide rod in position laterally. To hold thevrearplate firmly in its closed position, andtoassist in holding the uide rodin position and to facilitate assem ly of the parts, the rear end of theguide rod 17 is provided with a guid- 59% positioned between plug 17 andthe rear end of projection 17 and adapted, when the rod is in positionin the casin to rest a ainst the inner face of the left and side 0 therear plate and ,to engage the inner face of the left hand side plate ofthe easing and the upper and lower inturned flanges of said side plateas shown in Fig. 59. When the "projection 17 therefore engages in thehole in the rear .plate, the rear plate cannot be slid downwardly out ofposition because of the en agement ofthe ottom edge of the guide p ate17 with the bottom inturned vflangeof the left hand side plate; Theforward'end of the spring 17 or-locating plate 17 (Figs. 12, 13 and isfurther guided and seated in a seat.

formed therefor by the top surface of the lower horizontal portion 12 ofthe lock frame 12, the lower left hand face of the centrally arrangedupwardly projecting portion 12 (Figs. 12, 13,16 and l of said lock frameand the arcuate guide 8 on the bottom of the lefthand arm 8" of thebar-,

rel extension (see Figs. 16,17 and 30). To

bined reaction spring, guide rod and guide plate, it is only necessaryto press against the rear projection. 17 on the guide rod and move itforwardly beyond the front face of the rear plate by the point of acartridge, and at the same time slide the rear plate downwardly to movethe hole out of registry with the projection-17. When this is done therear plate can be slid downwardly and completely withdrawn from thecasing, and the combined sprin guide rod and guide plate can be rearwarly removed.

The firin pin 19 (Fig. 39) is mounted for longitudina movement in a seatarranged centrally of the breech block in position to strike the centerof the primer of a cartridge in I the barrel chamber when the breechblock is in its top- The pin is held normally in its rear position withthe firing oint withdrawn into the breech block an its rear endprotruding from the rear face of most position.

.said breech block under the action of its spring and its longitudinalmovement is limited in a usual manner by a transverse pin 19 passingthrough a longitudinal recess formed in the-cylindrical body of said pin(see Figs. 13 and 39).

The hammer 20 (Fig. 53) for cooperation with said firing pin is mountedfor longitudinal slidin movement in a seat provided therefor in t ecentral upwardly projecting portion 12 of the lock frame 12 (see Figs.6, 43 and 44). At their rear portions the hammer and hammer seat aresubstantially rectangular in cross section, the hammer seat having atits rear end a seat for the-head ofthe guide pin as hereinafterdescribed. The hammer is uided in its seat at the rear 10 ribs20 (Fig.53) projecting from each side which engage corresponding grooves in thehammer seat and at their forward ends the hammer and its seat arecylindrical and the hammer has a sliding fit in its seat. At its forwardend the hammer terminates in a flat nose 20 (F i 53) to strike the firing pin. The main spring 20 .is seated in a cylindrical seat drilled inthe hammer as shown in Fig. 53, abutting at its forward end against theend of the seat and at its rear end. against the shoulder of the shortguide rod 20 (Fig. 53), which for this purpose is of a larger diameterat its rear than at its forward portion in the sprin The rear enlargedhead of the guide to has a slot, allowing the rod to be turned on' itsaxis, and also carries two small lugs which project from opposite sides.The rear end of the hammer seat, which is cylindrical, is provided witha horizontal slot through w ich these lugs may be made to enter.Slightly in front of the rear end of the hammer two partly-circularrecesses are cut into the wall of the seat which the lugs of the guiderod may be as mainspring by the sear 21, also carried by the lock frame12. The form of the sear is shown in Fig. 54, and as there shown, it hastwo lugs, projecting from each s1de centrally of the sear, a downwardly,inclined rear arm and 'a nose forming a shoulder at the top of the frontend. Under the lugs is a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 21 toco-operate with the sear spring, as hereinafter described.

' Immediately under the hammer seat the rear centrally and upwardlyprojecting p0rtion 12 of the lock frame has a longitudlnal recess 12(Fig. 43). Cut longitudinally into the rear faces of the sides of thisrecess, just below the hammer seat is a slot, which slot makes a seatfor the two lateral In S rigid with said sear, pivoting the sear withinthe recess, with its downwardly inclined rear arm projecting rearwardlyof said portion 12 of the lock frame and its front arm projectingforwardly under the hammer (Fig. 44) The sear is normally held in itscocking position as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 44, with the" nose at itsfront end in engagement with the bottom of the hammer, by the searspring 21 (Figs. 6, 7 and 58). The scar spring is an ordinary wirespring, the rear end of which is seated in a shallow recess on the righthand top surface of the laterally widened portion 12 of the lock frame,

as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 42.. .The upwardly projecting forward arm ofthe spring is bent at right angles at the top, forming a horizontallydisposed arm 21" (Fig. 56) which engages the forwardly and downwardlyinclined under surface 21 of the sear 21 (see Fi s. 6, 7, 44 and 54),pressing it forwardly, t ereby serving to keep the sear. in its seat andyieldingly in its operative position.

The rear downwardly inclined arm of the sear is adapted to co-operatewith the trigger lever 22, shown detached in Fig. 52 ,'which is ofbell-crank shape and pivoted on a fixed pivot stud projecting laterallyfrom the right hand s1de of the lug 22 which projects upwardly from therearv end of the horizontal portion 12 of the lock frame just left ofcenter (see Figs. 42, 43 and 44). The lever 22 is normally held on itspivot stud by the head of screw 22 (Fig. One arm of the trigger leverprojects forwardly under the reanaim of the sear, while the other armprojects substantially vertically to a point ad acent the mner ed e ofthe inwardl projectin top flange o the left hand si e plate 'of t ecasing (Fig. 17

To insure that the sear'will not be tripped and disengaged from thecockinglshoulder a latera on the hammer, until the breech ock is in itsfull upper locked position,'the forward arm of the trigger lever 22 doesnot directly engage the rear arm of thefsear, but has pivoted to it, atits forward'end, a twoarmed trigger lever connector 22 (see Fig. 52) therear arm, of which is adapted to engage the sear, while the forward armis adapted to co-operate with a trip lever 23 (Fig. 553. Centrally ofthe trip 1ever 1s I y inwardly projectin(g p1vot -pm 23, which/is pivotaly mounte in a corresponding hole in the right handside of the lockframe. At its rear-end the trip lever is formed with a laterally andinwardly projecting arm 23" (Figs. 42 and 55), adapted to overlie theforward arm of the trig er leverv connector 22, while its forwar endprojects beyond the frontface of the lock frame and is there formedwithan inwardly and downwardly extending p'rojection 23, which extends intothe path of the top surface of the forward arm of the breech blockactuating lever 11. When the breech block actuating lever rotates andmoves the breech block to its uppermost closing position, the topsurface of the forward arm of said actuating lever engages saidprojection 23, raises it and ther fby he two positions are shown inFigs. 6 and 7 With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 6', when thetrigger lever 22 is actuated by pulling it rearward, its forwardlyextending arm is raised, the forward armof the connector 22 engages thearm 23 of the trip lever and is held thereby while the rear arm of thesaid connector engages the rear arm of the sear; further movement of thetrigger lever will now raise the rear arm of the sear and actuate thesear to release the hammer. the osition shown in Fig.7, with the breechbloc in its lowered position, and the rear arm of the trip lever 23raised-the normal movement given the trigger lever 22 is not sufiicientto engage the front arm of the connector 22 with the rear arm 23 of thedent that the gun can not be fired until the breech block is in itsuppermost position, the breech block lever thereby serving both to raisethe breech block and to control the time, of firing.

When the parts are in The trigger lever 22 projects at its upperend intothe path of a lateral inwardly projecting lug 24 at the forward end ofthe trigger bar 24 (Fi trigger bar, at its %1 'ont end, is slidablysecured to the top flange of theleft hand side plate of the casing, asby a tongue and roove connection as shown in Fig. 10. At its rear endsaid trigger bar has an upward extension projecting through alongitudinal slot in the top plate 3, and provided with a lateral studsliding on the top surface ofsaid, top plate to hold the rear end ofsaid trigger bar from droppin down" (Fig. 9). The trigger 25 (Fig. 8) ispivoted on the tip. of the top plate 3 by its pivot Stud 25 ig. 1) withits free end extending laterally beyond the left hand side plate of thecasing; In the bottom face of the trigger is a slot 25 (Fig. 8) intowhich the top; of

10, 11 and 16). The

the upwardly projecting rear end of the trigger bar extends, so thatwhen the-free end of the trigger is swung 'rearwardly about itspivotstud thetrigger bar will be moved rearwardly and will engage thetrigger lever by its lug 24, thereby rocking the trigger lever andactuating the sear, if the parts are in'their firing position as shownin projecting rear end of the trigger bar with v the front end of thelongitudinal opening in the top plate through which'said rear end of thetrigger bar projects (Fig. 10). The outer end of the plunger 25 projectsinto a recess on the stud 25 and this serves to maintain the trigger inposition on'its pivot stud 25% Also projecting upwardly from the topcasing is the stud 25' (Figs. 1 and 6) positioned to limit the rearwardswing of the tri ger so that the trigger lever can not be roc edsufficiently to actuatethe sear unless the front endof the trip leverhas been raised by the breech block actuating lever and the parts are inthe position shown in Fig.6. The trigger can be actuated by the directengagement of the shooters hand with its knurled free end, or by alanyard or other means attached near its free end, or otherwise.

From the foregoing description of the arrangement of the parts of thefiringmechanism on three relatively movable parts of the gun, namely,the vertically movable breech block, the longitudinally movable lockframe and the fixed casing, it will be evident that a number of safetyfactors are introduced which prevent firing until and unless the breechblock is at its uppermost .breech closing position and the lock frame isin its foremost position and the parts are lockedin full firingposition.

In this connection it is to be noted that the lost motion connectionbetween the breech block and its actuating lever, when the breech blockis in its uppermost position, provides against the possibility of amisfire if the actuating lever should rebound when the lateral studs 11at the end of the upward stroke of the forward arm ofsaid lever strikethe bottom of th side plates of the breech casing. If such lost motionwere not provided, it might happen that the rebound of the actuatinglever would lower the breech block sufliciently so that the hammer wouldfail to transmit its full blow-to the firin or the fi ring pin mightfail to strike the center of the primer. Either of these results mightcause a misfire.

The cocking of the hammer 20 is automatically eflected during therearward movement of the lock frame. For this purpose the hammer isprovided just forward of its center, with a vertical slot 26 (Figs. 44and 53) of gradually increasing width from top to bottom of the hammer.Into this slot projects the upper arm of the cocking lever 26 (Fig. 57)which is pivotally' mounted in a vertical slot in the forward part ofthe lock frame,-o'pening downwardly intothe space between the lugs 12"which support the breech block actuating lever.

'The lower arm of said cocking lever projects into said space where itis in position, when the hammer is in its forward position, to beactuated by the front face of shoulder 26 (Fig. 51) formed on the topface of said actuating lever, whereby when said actuating lever is swungabout its pivot to lower the breech block after a cartridge has beenfired, or when the lock frame is manually pulled to its rearwardposition, the lower arm of the cocking lever is moved forward and theupper arm of the same is moved rearward (Fig; 7), the engagement of thetop of said upper arm with the rear face of the slot 26 forcing thehammer rearwardly in its seat against the tension of the mainspringuntil it is cooked by the engagement of the sear in the cooking recess20 on the blottom face of the hammer. When the parts are in a rearwardposition, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of the cocking lever isresting on the top rounded surface of the shoulder 26*, so that when theparts return to forward position and the actuating lever swings on itspivot to raise the breech block the lower end of the cooking lever willride over the shoulder 26, which will pass from pinbecause out of linetherewith,

in place (see Fig. 44).

engagement therewith, and when the hammer Has been released the cookinglever will be rotated on its pivot so that the lower'end thereof will bereturned to a position rearwardly of that shown in Fig. 6 (where thehammer has not been released) and projecting into the path of theshoulder 26 so that it will be actuated by the front face of saidshoulder to again-cock the hammer on the recoil of the lock frame.

The cooking lever is pivoted on the pivot pin 26 (Fig. 56) which has arearwardly projecting spring arm 26, the rear end of which is adapted tobe seated in an arcuate groove at the righthand forward portion of therearward and upwardly extending portion 12 of the lock frame (Fig. 44).By springing or snapping the end of arm 26 into the arcuate groove, thepivot 26 is held firmly but removably in place and the cocking lever'canbe readily disassembled. The

downwardly projecting lip portion 26 (Fig;

56) of the spring arm engages the forward portlon of-the trip lever 23and retains it The movable members of the firing mechanism hereinbeforedescribed as mounted in the lock frame are conveniently arranged so asto-permit their ready assembly or disassembly from said frame. Bylifting. the rear end of the sear spring 21 from its recess, the springcan be readily removed fromthe frame. The sear will then be free to berearwardly withdrawn, its trunions being withdrawn rearwardly from theirseat. After withdrawal of the sear, the trigger lever can be swung aboutits pivot stud beyond the normal limit of its movement and laterallyremoved from its pivot stud on which it is normally held by the head ofscrew 22. By swinging or snapping the end of the spring arm 26 fromengagement in its groove in the lock frame this arm and the pivot 26 canbe laterally'withdrawn and the trip lever will be made free to bewithdrawn. The hammer can now be withdrawn. By turning the head of theguide rod 20 a partial revolution the lugs thereon will becomedisengaged and the guide rod and spring can be withdrawn rearwardly. Thehammer can then be withdrawn rearwardly from its seat in the lock frameand the cooking lever withdrawn from its slot.

When it is desired to fire automatically, the trigger is held back andon each forward movement of the lock frame the top of the on thetriggerbar, raising the pivot of the trigger lever connector 22 slightly higherthan the position shown in Fig. 6. The

forward arm of the breech block actuating trigger lever 22 engages withthe stud 24 arm and depressing the rear arm, which actuates the frontarm of the trigger lever connector (which is held in actuating positionby the trigger and trigger lever) to lag:-

tuate the sear to release the hammer. hammer will thereforebefreleasedautomatically, so long as there arecartridges in the gun, just as thebreech block and lock frame come to full firing position on each forwardreturn of the parts.

The cartridges are fed transversely, from left to right, to the'verticalcentral 1ongitudinal plane of the gun. My invention'comprises novelmeans for-holding a plurality the plate is adapted'to carry wardly w onthe feed plate is in position in the transverse channel adapted toreceive it. The front face of the feed plate is provided with seats suchas the recesses 27 to receive the heads of cartridges, these recesses,as herein shown being open at the bottom and rounded at the top toconform to the curva ture of the cartridge case as shown in Fig. 19.Said recesses are formed at their edges with overhanging flanges adaptedto receive the rojecting annular rims of the cartridge hea s. Acartridge is shown seated in the center recess in Figs. 19 and 20. Itwill be noted (see Figs. 19 and 21) that the bottom portions-of recesses27 are cut deeper than the top portions and formed with a rounded wall.This is to make easy the withdrawal of the cartridges as hereinafterdescribed,

by permitting some play between the car-' tridge and the feed plate asthe cartridge is withdrawn downwardly therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will 'be apparent when a cartridgehead is inserted from the open end of a recess until it engages therounded upper or inner end of said recess, it. will be firmly held fromlongitudinal displacement with its axis substantially at right angles tothe plane of the feed plate. To'prevent the cartridges from droppingdown out of the plate, means are provided for engaging the rims of saidcartridge heads on the sides facing the opensides of the recesses. Saidmeans may comprise a flat spring catch securely fastened to the lowerportion of the rear face of the feed plate in such manner that its freeand or ends will have a spring action relative to the rear face of theplate. 27, (Fig.- 22), is such a catch adapted to be fastened at itscenter, as by a'rivet as shown, giving two free ends; At each free endthe catch 27 is formed with a forwardly projectin stop projection 27,adapted to extend through a slot formed in the body of the plate, justbelow the point of tangency of the cartridge rim and the side of therecess,

thereby projecting into the path of the car-.,

tridge and holding it fromdropping down until the 'end of the catch israised and the stop projection 27" withdrawn. 'rearwardly from its slot.The catch may as shown aer- (Figs. 19 and 20 riveted to the plateflfatone end, and' having only one free end bearing a stop projection. Inthe embodiinentof the invention illustrated in which five cartridges, Imay use one single catch like 27 and one double catch like 27, thesingle catch 27 having at its free ends. s'to projection of a size toproject into the cesses of the first and second cartridges and hold themtherein, and a double catch like i mp,

27 with a stop projection at its right hand k free end to project intothe right hand side of the recess of the third or middle eartridge and astop projection on its left hand free end to pro ect into ad'oiningsides of the recesses of the fourth and fifth cartridges and hold themin place.

In order to readily withdraw said stop projections from the recemstopermit themsertion of cartridges therein and their successivewithdrawal'as the plate is fed through the gun as hereinafter described,the catches are provided near their free ends with rearwardly curvingprojections 27 having their side ed es bent outwardly and rearwardly sothat %y inserting atool havin an inclined cam surface so as to bring saicam surface under one of the outwardly bent sides of a projection, thecatch will be pressed or cammed rearwardly and the sto rejectionwithdrawn from the recess an lnto inoperative position. This-leaves therecess free and clear for the insertion or withdrawal of a cartridge.-In some cases, as when loading the plate, it may be de sirable to moveall the stop projections to their inoperative positions simultaneouslyand for this purpose a tool may be constructed of such length andprovided with a suflicient number of properly positioned cam surfaces,whereby the movement of the tool endwise will cause the cam surfaces toengage and liftall the latches simultaneously. 28 '(Fig. 27) is aconvenient form of such a tool, having three camming surfaces 28,arranged so that they will simultaneously engage and cam. rearwardly thethree projections 27 shown in Figs. 19 and 20 and having an upstandingend 28" which offers a convenient shoulder for exerting pressure on thetool to push it into place, camming rearwardly the sp catches. After therecesses have been fi l l dfi, the tool be withdrawn and the latcheswill spring into operative position to retain the cartridges in place inthe feed late.

For the automatic feedmg of the feed plate transversely of the n, thereare provided on the rear face 0 the upper flange 27. of the feed plate aspaced notches 29, (Fig. 18) formin shoulders at their right hand ends,sai shoulders being ada ted to be engaged by the feed pawl 30 Fig. 23)operated by each reciprocation of along'itudmally movable element suchas the barrel and barrel extension.

A convenient means for effecting the operation of said feed pawl maycomprise a. horizontally disposed feed pawl lever 31 (Figs. 14, 15, 23and 24) o "substantially bell crank-shape, pivoted on a vertical pin 31*on brackets 31 arran ed on the right hand side of the feed box Fi 14-and16). The top of pin 31 is engage by the cover of the feed box andthereby. held down its seat (see Fig. 12). The front arm of the saidfeed pawl lever extends forwardly to a point adjacent the top of thetransverse feed channel32 (Fig. 12), and carries, on a vertical pivot atits forward end, the feed pawl 30, the free hooked end of which 1sactuated toward the feed channel and into engagement with the upperflange of thefeed plate, when the same is in position in the'gun, by thetension of the pawl spr ng 30" (Fig. 23) housed in a seat therefor inrel extenslon, after a shot is fired, the stud the front arm of saidfeed pawl lever and acting through a plunger against the rear face ofthe pawl. The rear arm of sad feed pawl lever 31 extends laterallytoward the left hand side of the feed box and is' formed at its end,which is thickened vertically by a downward extension 31 (Fig. 24), w1tha vertically extending groove 31 of substantial width and depth.

This groove 31 is adapted to co-operate with an elongated stud 33 (Fig.25) which I rocks with the swivel stud 33 integral therewith and seatedin a pivot hole formed some distance below the upper end of a verticalfeed lever 33 6, and 25). This feed lever 33 is pivoted on a trans- Iverse pivot' pin 33 (Figs 6 and 16) in a bracket 33 (Figs. 14 and 15)secured inside the left hand side wall of the feed box. Below said stud33' the feed lever extends downward through a longitudinal slot 33 (Fig.16) formed in the upper inwardly projecting flange of the left hand'side plate of the breech casing and close to the inner surface of saidside plate.

Means are provided for y'ieldlngly holding said lever between certainlimits of movement and this means may comprise a spring wire 34 (Fig.26) having its central portion coiled about a groove formed plurality ofequally on the; inner end of the feed lever pivot pin 33 '(see Figs..14and 15) which is headed .:on its outer end. The spring extends from itsseat on said pivot pin both forwardly and rearwardly along the outsideof the bracket 33, in which said feed lever is pivoted. At the ends ofsaid bracket, each branch of the spring is placed under some tension tohold the spring and the pivot pin 33 in assembled relation, by pass-.ing each end of the sprin wardl projecting stud 34 Figs. 6 and 15))IOVl. ed at each'end of the bracket. Each under an in-:

ranch of the spring is then bent at right located in the path of thefeed lever on opposite sides of the lever bracket, to yieldingly limitthe movement of said lever in each direction. The lower end of the feedlever extends downwardly for some distance into the breech. casing(Figs. 16 and '17) and'lies in the.path of .a lateral outwardlyprojecting stud 34 on the left hand arm 8 of the barrel extension (FiQ16, 17 and 28) the rear portion 2 of 'whlch, as hereinbefore described,is spaced some distance from the adjacent sidewall of "the breechcasing.

The stud 34 and the end of the feed. lever are so positioned that duringthe last portion of the recoil of the barrel and bar- 34 will engage thelower end ofi'the feed lever 33 to swing it rearwardly, this in turnthrough the stud 33 (as the same is located-- below. the pivot point ofthe feed lever). swinging the feed pawl lever '31 to actuate the feedpawl 30 to the left, from the osition shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in.ig.

14, so as to cause the hooked end ofthe feed pawl to ride idlytoward theleft along rear arm of feed lever spring 34,'and by its 6 furtherrearward movement places said" spring under tension. When the barrelex-- tension is almost at the limit of its recoil,

the lower end of the feed lever sna s past i-ts engaging stud 34 and the'spr1ng34,

being under tension, returns it forward some distance, to insure that onthecounter 're-' coil of the barrel and barrel extension the' stud 34will engage the lever on its rear .face and swing it forwardly, thusswing.

ing the horizontal feed pawl lever 31 to actuate the feed pawl 30 totheright, from the osition shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in ig. 15, thehooked end of the feed pawl catclnng on the shoulder of the adjacentnotch 29 and feedin the feed plate a proper distance from 10 to right inthe trans versefeed. channel 32, to position the next cartridge to 'beprojected into the barrel chamber. .Dur'ing the last of the forwardmovement of the vertical feed lever, the inwardly projecting end of thefront arm of the spring 34 engages the end of said feed 1 lever, isvlaced under tension, and when the endo said lever is released by thestud 34 during the final forward movement of the barrel extension,swings said lever. back a short distance, thereby bringing it into.position to be a ain engaged on its front face bysaid stu on the nextrecoil of the barrel extension. At the time the'lever 33 engagcsthefront arm of spring 34 and places it under tension, the pawl spring isalso placed under tension (see Fig. 15) so that when the stud 34 final ypasses beyond-the lever 33, spring 34 and spring 30 both act to swingthe lever 33 rearwardly to'substantially the position shown 'in Fig. 6and act to swing lever 31 from the position of Fig. 15 toward theposition of Fig. 14.

To prevent an movement of the feed plate toward the eft, a sto pawl 35(Figs.

6, 7 and 17) is provided. his pawl maybe convenientlymounted to moveinlavertical plane about a pivot pin supportedjunder the top cover of thefeed box 4, and bemg actuated to its normal position by a spring. Thepawl co-operates with a series.

of equally spaced notches 35" (Fig. 18) formed in the top of the feedplate. "By lifting the coverof the feed box the stop pawl will bedisengaged from the feed plate and the same can be withdrawn to the left'if the hooked end of the feed pawl 30 is swung back.

It will be noted, by reference to Fig.. 18,-.

' that in addition to the recesses 29 which form the shoulders forengagement by the feed pawl, there are additional recesses 36 at theright and adjacent each shoulder.

These are for the purpose of weakeningthese shoulders so that in caseanything jams in the feed channel during the forward movement of thebarrel, the shoulder on the feed plate would give way and revent furtherdestruction. The dam feed late can be discarded, and replace with a rashone. I Y

. The-means for automatically feedin' the cartridges intothe barrelchamber an the manner in which said means operate will now be described.

A.- cartridge carrier 37 (Figs. 6, 7, 12 and 13) is pivoted in the rearof the transverse channel 32 in the feed box on a transverse "'lwardlyprojecting of a carrier latch 39 pivot pin 37- (Figs. 2, 5, 12, 1a, 14

and 15) assing throu h said carrier and the si es, of the to box. Thecarrier is held centrally of the gun by having spaced forwardprojections 37" 6, 12 and 13) on its hub straddle a rearward projection38. (Figs. 12, '13 and forming the rear wall of the transverse feedchannel 32 and also by having itslong forarm, which is shaped sov as topass over t e feed channel and is inclincd downwardly .and forwardly,pass through a space formed between the inner ends of forward guidemembers '38 and 38" (Figs. 14, 15 and 17) for the feed plate, one proecting inwardly from the right hand side of the feed box, and the otherfrom the left hand side. Member 38 which projects inwardly from the riht hand side of the feed box has a cam sur ace on its inner edge,

shown in Fig. 17, for camming down'the cartridgesout of the feed plate,as hereinafter described. The projections 37 have. ad-

,di'tional functions hereinafter set forth.

When the parts are in the postion shown in,Figs. 12, i. 15., with thebarrel and barrel.

39" in a bracket on the right hand side of" .16) at the bottom of thetransverse wall the feed box. The top of this pivot pin engages the feedbox cover or a stud projecting downwardly therefrom and is thereby he din its seat (Fig.12). is actuated inwardly to bring its nose intoengagement with said notch on the carrier by a spring 39" (Fig. 14)seated in a recess in the latch and bearing at its outer end This latchagainst the side of the feed box. The

swing of the latch 39 under the influence of itsfsspring is limited bythe engagement .of the oulder 39 (Fig. 14) with an abut- .ment on theside of the feed box. Pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pin40',

on ashort rearwardly project' --arm' of said carrier is a dog 40 (Figs.-6, 12 and 13) adapted, when the carrier is in its normal POSltlOIl andthe lock frame is in forward position (Fi' 6) to project rearward ly'anddownwar y into the path of the lock frame. A strong helical spring 40(Figs. 6 and 13), seated in a recess in said carrier, acts to depressthe dog by acting through a plunger against an upward projection on saiddog.

'When the parts are in firing ition, shown in Fig. 6, andthe lock frameis either

